Blueberry plant named ‘FV1906’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Blueberry plant named ‘FV1906’, characterized by its upright and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early fruiting with relatively low chilling requirement; high fruit yield; large dark blue-colored spherical fruits; sweet fruit taste; and good fruit postharvest longevity.

Botanical designation: Vaccinium corymbosum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FV1906’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Blueberry Plant Named ‘FV1904’

Inventor: Niels Arts

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application having application Ser. No. 17/357,809

Title: Blueberry Plant Named ‘FV1907’

Inventor: Niels Arts

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application having application Ser. No. 17/357,863

Title: Blueberry Plant Named ‘FV1908’

Inventor: Niels Arts

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application having application Ser. No. 17/357,871

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, FV B.V. of De Kwakel, The Netherlands on Apr. 6, 2020, application number 2020/0964. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Blueberry plant, commonly referred to as Highbush Blueberry, botanically known as Vaccinium corymbosum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘FV1906’.

The new Blueberry plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and Lepe, Spain. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new early-fruiting Blueberry plants with large fruits and good fruit quality, productivity, uniformity and postproduction longevity.

The new Blueberry plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2014 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands by the Inventor of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Emerald’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,165, as the female, or seed, parent with Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Snowchaser’ disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,503, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Blueberry plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Lepe, Spain in February, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Blueberry plant by stem cuttings in a controlled environment at Lepe, Spain since June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Blueberry plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Blueberry have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘FV1906’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘FV1906’ as a new and distinct Blueberry plant:

-   -   1. Upright and bushy plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early fruiting with relatively low chilling requirement.     -   5. High fruit yield.     -   6. Large dark blue-colored spherical fruits.     -   7. Sweet fruit taste.     -   8. Good fruit postharvest longevity.

Plants of the new Blueberry differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Emerald’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Blueberry are more upright than plants of         ‘Emerald’.     -   2. Plants of the new Blueberry produce fruit about two months         earlier than plants of ‘Emerald’.     -   3. Plants of the new Blueberry have a 150 hour chilling         requirement whereas plants of ‘Emerald’ have a 250 hour chilling         requirement.

Plants of the new Blueberry differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Snowchaser’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Blueberry produce fruit earlier than plants         of ‘Snowchaser’.     -   2. Plants of the new Blueberry produce larger fruit than plants         of ‘Snowchaser’.

Plants of the new Blueberry can be compared to plants of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘FV1904’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently having application Ser. No. 17/357,809. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Blueberry differ from plants of ‘FV1904’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Blueberry produce slightly larger fruits         than plants of ‘FV1904’.     -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Blueberry are firmer than fruits         of plants of ‘FV1904’.     -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Blueberry are not as sweet as         fruits of plants of ‘FV1904’.     -   4. Plants of the new Blueberry produce less fruit per plant than         plants of ‘FV1904’.

Plants of the new Blueberry can be compared to plants of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘FV1907’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently having application Ser. No. 17/357,863. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Blueberry differ from plants of ‘FV1907’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Blueberry are more upright than plants of         ‘FV1907’.     -   2. Plants of the new Blueberry have a 150 hour chilling         requirement whereas plants of ‘FV1907’ have a 100 hour chilling         requirement.     -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Blueberry are firmer than fruits         of plants of ‘FV1907’.     -   4. Fruits of plants of the new Blueberry are not as sweet as         fruits of plants of ‘FV1907’.

Plants of the new Blueberry can be compared to plants of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘FV1908’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently having application Ser. No. 17/357,871. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Blueberry differ from plants of ‘FV1908’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Blueberry have a 150 hour chilling         requirement whereas plants of ‘FV1908’ have a 100 hour chilling         requirement.     -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Blueberry are firmer than fruits         of plants of ‘FV1908’.

Plants of the new Blueberry can also be compared to plants of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Star’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,675. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Blueberry differ from plants of ‘Star’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Blueberry are more upright than plants of         ‘Star’.     -   2. Plants of the new Blueberry are more vigorous and larger than         plants of ‘Star’.     -   3. Plants of the new Blueberry have larger leaves than plants of         ‘Star’.     -   4. Plants of the new Blueberry have a 150 hour chilling         requirement whereas plants of ‘Star’ have a 400 hour chilling         requirement.     -   5. Plants of the new Blueberry produce more fruit per plant than         plants of ‘Star’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the appearance of the new Blueberry plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Blueberry plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of typical flowering and fruiting plants of ‘FV1906’.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical developing and developed fruits of ‘FV1906’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring, summer and autumn in ground beds in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Lepe, Spain and under typical cultural practices of Blueberry plant production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were pinched and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Vaccinium corymbosum ‘FV1906’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Emerald’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,165.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Snowchaser’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,503. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six             weeks at temperatures about 26° C.         -   Root description.—Fine in thickness, fibrous, typically             white to brown in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Shallow rooting; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and bushy plant habit;             vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; plants             produce fruit on one-year and current season's shoots.         -   Plant height.—About 135 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 40 cm. -   Branch description:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About five primary branches each with             about 13 secondary branches each; pinching enhances             branching potential.         -   Length.—About 80 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144B; in the             autumn, tinged with close to 176C to 176D; if woody, close             to 199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth to rugose,             glabrous; matte.         -   Venation.—Pinnate and reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; in the autumn, tinged with close to 176C to             176D; venation, close to 144D. Developing and fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; in the autumn, tinged             with close to 176C to 176D; venation, close to 144D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Single urceolate-shaped             flowers arranged in panicles; freely flowering with about 50             to 100 flowers per inflorescence and about 800 to 1,000             flowers developing per plant during the flowering season;             flowers, drooping and longitudinally ridged; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In Lepe, Spain plants typically             flower in October.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to 144B; anthocyanin development has not been             observed.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 15 cm to 25 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm to 10 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals, fused. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Urceolate. Apex: Cuspidate.             Margin, distal free part: Entire; moderately undulate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to NN155B tinged with close to 186D. When opening, lower             surface: Close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to NN155B; venation, close to NN155B; color             becoming closer to 164A with development.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals, fused; erect to semi-erect             and straight. Calyx length: About 5 mm. Calyx width: About             8 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: When developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             143D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143D;             in the autumn, tinged with close to 176C to 176D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color: Close to 143D; in the autumn, tinged with             close to 176C to 176D.         -   Pedicels (flowers and fruits).—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 139C; in the             autumn, tinged with close to 176C to 176D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             ten. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to             164A. Anther size: About 2 mm by 2 mm. Anther color: Close             to 164A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to             155D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 5 mm to 10 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma             shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 138B. Style length:             About 8 mm. Style color: Close to 138B. Ovary color: Close             to 138B.         -   Fruits.—Type: Berry. Quantity: One per flower; about 2.5 to             3 kilograms of fruits are formed on one-year old plants.             Time to ripening: About one week. Keeping quality: Good             postproduction longevity, about two weeks. Size: Medium,             about 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Weight: About 2.5 g. Shape: Roughly             spherical. Firmness: Firm. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Flesh color: Close to 144D. Skin color,             developing: Close to 143C. Skin color, developed: Close to             103A; bloom, close to NN155A. Taste: Very sweet; brix, close             to 12%.         -   Seeds.—Quantity: About 10 to 20 per berry. Length: About             2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 164A. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Blueberry     have been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Blueberry plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Blueberry have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about     40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Blueberry plant named ‘FV1906’ as illustrated and described. 